Latest news with #PanchayatRajDepartment
The Hindu
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Proposal to make OC mandatory for buildings on plots beyond 1200 sq. ft
In what comes as a relief from the logjam created by the implementation of the December 2024 Supreme Court order, which mandated an occupancy certificate (OC) for getting utility connections, concerned departments have now decided to propose to the Cabinet to bring in amendments to multiple laws of the State and notify rules to mandate OC for only buildings built on plots above 1200 sq. ft (30X40 ft) across the State. This essentially means all buildings built on sites larger than 30X40 feet will have to take an OC, henceforth, which was not the case earlier in Bengaluru. Following the implementation of the Supreme Court, over 1 lakh applications seeking new power connections have been pending in the Bescom area alone, for want of an OC. Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Energy Minister K.J. George had said that the State government would soon introduce amendments to resolve the impasse. 'The problem was that, in none of our governing acts are there clear exemptions to any buildings from OC. However, in practice, since the utility service providers were also not insisting on it, our urban local bodies were not issuing OCs to all buildings, but insisted on it only for bigger buildings. Legally, it has been a grey area. It is impractical to insist on OCs in all buildings, so there needs to be amendments to our laws to clarify which buildings are exempted,' said a senior official. The Urban Development Department (UDD) and Panchayat Raj Department met with other stakeholders on July 11, minutes of which are available with The Hindu. In the meeting, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) suggested that buildings built on plots up to 1200 sqft (ground + 2 floors or stilt +3 floors) can be exempted from obtaining OCs. The Panchayat Raj Department also concurred with the same exemption. Neither the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976, nor the Karnataka Municipalities Act, 1964, has any provision for exemption for any buildings from availing an OC. The meeting has decided to propose amendments to these laws to bring this change. Meanwhile, Section 241(7) of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024 says: 'Government may notify the category of building which shall be exempted from obtaining occupancy certificate'. The meeting decided to notify of the exemption for buildings built on plots up to 1200 sq. ft. The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department will also adopt the same exemption in its Model Building Byelaws.
The Hindu
04-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
₹6.25 cr. to bolster rural road network in Rayachoti
Rural roads in Rayachoti Assembly segment in Annamayya district are set to receive a major fillip with a sanctioned budget of ₹6.25 crore. Minister for Transport, Youth Affairs and Sports Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy on Sunday (May 4) announced the sanctioning of funds while inspecting the rural roads in and around Rayachoti town. He said the construction of over 27 km of rural roads would soon begin in the constituency. The fund includes ₹4.16 crore under the 30th tranche of the NABARD Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) for 2024–25 and ₹2.09 crore from the government. The Minister directed the Chief Engineer of the Panchayat Raj Department to launch the construction of eleven rural roads in various villages. 'These roads are in a very bad condition. The new initiatives will significantly strengthen rural roads across Rayalaseema,' the Minister said. The roads identified for immediate development include a 1.5-km stretch from Rayachoti–Madanapalle highway to Reddipalle in Chinnamandem mandal. A 4.51-km road from RK Road to KG Road via Gopanapalle is set to be constructed in Galiveedu mandal. Works on the 3.5-km road from Madhavaram to Madhya Vandalapalle in Rayachoti mandal would be expedited, Mr. Ramprasad Reddy said. A 1.91-km road from Masapeta–Katimayakunta Road to Addlu Vandalapalle in the surroundings of Rayachoti would be laid shortly. The plan to construct a 2.87-km road from Shettipalle to Peddabidi via Thimmakkagari Palli in Sambepalle mandal would be launched in a couple of months, the Minister said. Highlighting the achievements of the NDA government over the past eleven months, the Minister observed that with active funding and cooperation between the State and Centre, rural infrastructure would see revolutionary changes. Strengthening the rural road network will help farmers and others to better access commercial centres, he said.
Hans India
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Survey ordered to identify encroached govt lands
Paderu (Asr District): Alluri Sitarama Raju district collector AS Dinesh Kumar has directed officials to conduct a comprehensive survey to identify encroachments on government lands. He clarified that it is the responsibility of officials to protect government properties. Speaking at a high-level committee meeting held at the Collectorate video conference hall on Monday, the collector instructed that the survey on the status of government lands must be completed within a week. He said that action plans must be prepared to remove identified encroachments. The collector ordered village surveyors, Village Revenue Officers (VROs), and Panchayat Secretaries to jointly prepare detailed reports on encroachments on Banjar lands, Grama Kanthams, and other government lands. He stressed that revenue and survey officials must play a crucial role in the process. Further, he instructed officials to issue notices to encroachers and remove illegal structures after giving them grace time for a week. Regardless of whether the encroachers are poor or influential, unauthorised constructions on government land must be demolished, he said. The collector directed the revenue, police, and panchayat departments to work together in a mission-mode operation to clear encroachments. He also asked officials to identify and remove encroachments on lands belonging to the Roads and Buildings Department, Panchayat Raj Department, and Irrigation Department. He instructed officials to identify occupants of Grama Kanthams and demarcate government lands, particularly those belonging to the Roads and Buildings Department. District Panchayat Officer B Lava Raju, Divisional Panchayat Officer PS Kumar, Survey Assistant Director K Devendrudu, DSP Shaik Shahbaz Ahmed, Roads and Buildings Department EE Bala Sundar Babu were among those who present at the meeting.
Hans India
22-04-2025
- Business
- Hans India
T-Innovation Mahotsavam celebrated across State
Hyderabad: On the occasion of World Creativity and Innovation Day, Telangana Innovation Cell (TGIC), in collaboration with the Panchayat Raj Department on Monday concluded the State-wide T-Innovation Mahotsavam (TIM) 2025. The main aim was to raise awareness about its importance and connecting market-ready solutions with rural communities to address critical livelihood challenges in 33 districts of Telangana. The core of TIM 2025 was at the village level, spearheaded by respective Sarpanches and Secretaries. According to the TGIC officials, the initiative successfully cultivated a deeper understanding of the significance of innovation within rural communities, empowering residents to identify and develop solutions for their daily challenges. Across the State, villagers actively participated in discussions centred on the necessity of innovation, the pressing issues affecting their lives, and brainstorming of practical solutions. Strategic collaborations with district administrations, educational institutions, and community platforms drove a substantial increase in participation and engagement for TIM 2025. Notably, TGIC Host Institutions actively celebrated TIM, becoming crucial centres for fostering grassroots innovation and entrepreneurship. The partnership with TGSRTC extended Mahotsavam's impact by showcasing TIM awareness posters and audio-visuals at bus stands Statewide. 'Our vision for TIM 2025 is to not only to celebrate and recognise the innovative spirit across Telangana but also equip our rural communities with the tools and knowledge to overcome their livelihood challenges. By strengthening our innovation ecosystem and broadening our outreach, we are ensuring that the transformative power of innovation is accessible to every citizen', said Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Special Chief Secretary, ITE&C. 'TIM 2025 is about bringing innovation to the heart of Telangana's communities. We are not just celebrating creativity, we are deploying it to solve real-world problems. By connecting market-ready solutions with those who need them most, we are ensuring that innovation translates into tangible impact,' said Meraj, CEO of TGIC.
